Now, back when Pope Benedictine XVI was still Cardinal Ratzinger, he convinced John Paul II to put him in charge of investigating sex crimes within the church. Before that, there was no investigative office for sex crimes. None. Benedictine created the office and took responsibility upon himself. All the time John Paul II was standing up to Communism, standing up for Poland, nearly getting shot to death, and generally acting like a superhero, all of this stuff was brewing in the background, and not being taken care of by John Paul II. At the time Benedictine XVI went after some very high-profile targets. There was incredible political pressure from the Vatican to back off going all the way up to John Paul II himself. I know some people want to hang responsibility for some of the cases that were mishandled on his shoulders, but if it weren't for Benedictine, I'm sure that most of the crimes he investigated wouldn't have been investigated. So I have respect for the man.

And I'm not a Catholic. And I don't really like the Catholic church that much. I do think John Paul II represents a high-water mark for the Catholic church. After him, I think it's a downward spiral for that faith until the Catholic Pope has as much worldwide influence as the Coptic Pope.

Crewmannumber6:Not as edgy or controvercial as I would have liked. If there is a reformation contigent in the cloister that wants to shake things up, this could be fun.

I really doubt it.

Benedict had a hand in picking almost every cardinal who will participate at the conclave, either directlyor when he was JPII's right hand. The next pope will likely be as conservative as Benedict, even with thedouble whammy of the sex abuse allegations and the supposed Vatican corruption scandal. I truly hopeI am being wrong and cynical, but I doubt it.

I wonder, though, if as Pope Emeritus Benedict will continue cozying up to the ultra-conservative typeshe's been trying to court througout his pontificate.

Baron Harkonnen:Now, back when Pope Benedictine XVI was still Cardinal Ratzinger, he convinced John Paul II to put him in charge of investigating sex crimes within the church. Before that, there was no investigative office for sex crimes. None. Benedictine created the office and took responsibility upon himself. All the time John Paul II was standing up to Communism, standing up for Poland, nearly getting shot to death, and generally acting like a superhero, all of this stuff was brewing in the background, and not being taken care of by John Paul II. At the time Benedictine XVI went after some very high-profile targets. There was incredible political pressure from the Vatican to back off going all the way up to John Paul II himself. I know some people want to hang responsibility for some of the cases that were mishandled on his shoulders, but if it weren't for Benedictine, I'm sure that most of the crimes he investigated wouldn't have been investigated. So I have respect for the man.

And I'm not a Catholic. And I don't really like the Catholic church that much. I do think John Paul II represents a high-water mark for the Catholic church. After him, I think it's a downward spiral for that faith until the Catholic Pope has as much worldwide influence as the Coptic Pope.

Eh. Not totally sure I agree. Ratzinger was always the Vatican's enforcer head of the Office that used to be called the Holy Inquisition that handles things like priestly discipline, rooting out heresy etc. he was always known as the Admin guy whereas JPII was the idea guy, and was famously hard-nosed about it (there was a joke going around the Vatican twenty years ago about Ratzinger going into the confessional with Jesus himself and Jesus coming out and starting to say Hail Marys). The problem was, while Ratso was a real heavy when it came to doctinal disputes, particualrly with American Catholic universities and the like, on the subject of pedophilia, he blinked big time. His actions to spirit Cardinal Law away from Boston and into a role that gave him diplomatic immunity just as MA prosecutors were preparing to indict him speaks volumes of his approach to the scandal, it wasn;t about cleaning house and bringing in the sunshine, it was all about closing ranks, and trying to avoid legal liability.

It was the wrong thing to do, and now it's hurting the church badly. As for the Church's diminished role, unless you are old enough to remeber the church before JPII, you can;t really understand how he changed the role and stature of the pope on the world stage (only John XXIII in the last few centuries has had anywhere near the impact JPII did -and his influence was largely internal to the church) before him the average non-catholic wouldn;t have even known who the pope WAS. Afterwards he was a major world leader in many ways. I think a lot of that had to do with the PERSON of JPII himself (exceptional writer, fluent in 26-odd languages, fairly well-regarded philospher in academic circles) and I doubt we'll see another personality like his in our lifetimes, and crtainly not one who can get through the hardline College of Cardinals Ratzinger created in JPII's declining years to "stuff the ballot box" for his election

jumac:hdhale: For a guy who figured on being a "temp" for several years until he passed on and someone emerged who would be able to to take the helm of the Church for the next couple of decades or so, he did ok. Yes, I'm aware of all the allegations made about him before he became Pope.

martid4: Jesus H. Christ, aren't these guys a little old to be in college?

Their college is older than yours. Have you not heard of continuing adult education? ;-)ismakes one wounder was this all planned form the begining. maybe he was told ok your going be pope for a few yearsbut once we find a able body person who will be a better fit then you retired and get all this for doing it.

He was 78 when he became Pope. Questions?

Entirely possible *he* didn't think he'd still be alive in 2013 when he took the job. A reasonable assumption, even for someone who has excellent quality of medical care.

For a guy who figured on being a "temp" for several years until he passed on and someone emerged who would be able to to take the helm of the Church for the next couple of decades or so, he did ok. Yes, I'm aware of all the allegations made about him before he became Pope.

martid4:Jesus H. Christ, aren't these guys a little old to be in college?

Their college is older than yours. Have you not heard of continuing adult education? ;-)

CSB: I once dated a girl who had a brother around toddler age. He found out that he could get a whole room laughing out loud by saying that line. Coming from a little kid, puffed up with self-satisfaction at finding the perfect joke, it was hilarious. He would toddle into the room, start pointing at the adults, and say, "f♥ck you, f♥ck you, and f♥ck you! Who's next?" and then, for added effect, he'd repeat it.

Of course, he got the "That's naughty! you shouldn't say that word!" response, but it was sort of weak coming from a room full of adults who were gasping for breath due to the surprise of a small child bursting in and cursing them all out in the funniest way imaginable.

But then in the coming weeks, like Kristen Wiig or the cast of MAD TV, he repeated the once-loved joke over and over until it was no longer funny, and then became sort of annoying.

How in the fark is a long shot of a helicopter flying over Rome news? fark you ABC, CBS, and NBC you SHOULD be reporting on child sex abuse and why the Vatican is allowed sovereignty when it's just a cult of pedophiles.

ChrisDe:Just to irritate conservatives, I'd like to see the College of Cardinals elect Obama as the next Pope.

Considering the most vocal social conservatives in this country tend to be evangelicals, and they tend to think of the Pope as some kind of anti-Christ, many of them wouldn't be irritated. In fact, many would say, "Told ya so."